Most liked posts in thread: Sparks Speaks

That's a very worrying post Dennis although it does back up my belief that far from propping us up Stefan Rupp is slowly, mostly by neglect, strangling the life of of the club.

#Ruppout

 

Wholly agree.

Everyone seems to have got down on their knees and be praying at the altar of Notts County and Wrexham because they're so strong we couldn't possibly hope to compete. Despite between them spending a combined 20 previous seasons in the National League.

As others have said. Sparks has confirmed our turnover to be £8m+. We can have a playing budget of up to £4.5m so we're spending way below what we're allowed to. Similar to the COVID season where Sparks held back prior to new spending rules being put in place (which never materialised) whilst the likes of Bolton smashed their signings (and look at them now).

Accepted we may have higher overheads meaning we can't reach the 4.5m budget and it may also not be prudent to spend to that level, but someone somewhere is making a proactive decision to spend far less than were allowed to. It doesn't tie up with a desire to get out of this league and it very much holds us back.

 

Matching Plymouth and Rotherham (and other bottom end teams) with £6m budgets in the Championship would be more than doable for City.

TV money at that level alone was £6m per club a few years back.

We just really, really, need to get out of this league first.

 

In other words success is rewarded, and parachute payments also means failure is rewarded. It’s not beyond the wit of any lawyer to write into contract clauses, “ you are here on Prem wages until you get relegated”, “ You get relegated your salary drops to CC levels” . In a lot of instances the payment of the parachute, just aids the perpetual yo yoing of clubs. My local side Norwich is probably funded by it.

It creates a massive imbalance when in reality it could be resolved overnight .

ImHO of course.

 

I'd say the budgets thing is the better talking point of the article. So Sparks says that our budget this season is about £2.7-2.8 million and the EFL report says that a club has a £4 million playing budget without naming but everyone knows which club that will be.

For comparison, last season Rotherham & Blackpool had budgets of just under £6m for the Championship. It has been reported (but won't be confirmed until the books come out towards the end of the season) that Plymouth have a £6m budget in the champ this season. I think £4m would end up being a competitive budget in L1.

 

It looks like we spend far more on non playing costs than the Players which is not a recipe for success. Everything we do should be with the intent of providing the manager with the highest budget we can,

 

The cynic in me is starting to think that last season's overspend on the playing budget is being recouped this season as part of the club's sustainability mantra.[/QUOTE]
I’ve been screaming about this all summer.., record profits and yet signings were all underwhelming. Nothing made sense with the summer. I was called negative for saying I think the budget had been cut and it has its clear. How can people still support Rupp and Sparks I just don’t get how they have any supporters out there!!!

 

If Sparks is going to speak I would really like to hear his views on not accepting mediocrity, quality over quantity and with these points in mind who the hell sanctioned our summer recruitment policy?!
As CEO Ryan, is this too much to ask from the supporters who are the lifeblood of the club!
If we had an owner who was remotely interested in football then he would be demanding these answers - but we all know the issue here
What a shambles we are on the playing front, irrespective of whether we can muster a comeback against the mighty Sutton

 

Does this work?

https://archive.ph/0p2Py

 

Definitely think the gap between L2 and L1 would be bridgeable for us. The problems would definitely come in the money pit of a Championship, mixing with players on 40k a week, funded by parachute payments from PL

 

@Dennis rarely gets his figures wrong

 

Once again @Dennis spot. I read that and thought the same. We should be having every penny we can to enhance our playing budget. For instance we could have a 1st class striker and midfielder? I thought I must have done my maths wrong and or the behind playing field budget is very high and or someone is taking profits.

 

Spot on. We fundamentally lack ambition and strategic leadership on all things football. And I'm convinced Rupp is taking out some form of dividend.

 

Is that a cryptic clue for 16 across?

Starts with R, 4 letters.